PLANNING FOR THIS YEAR’S ALFALFA GROWING SEASON DES MOINES, lowa - Older al falfa stands may not be providing optimum value per acre for produc ers. But there are a few easy ways to check stands to see if you’re getting the most value from your alfalfa fields, according to an expert with Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. “Today’s alfalfa growers and livestock producers can’t afford not to get the maximum value per acre from their forage,” said Carl Bannon, Pioneer technical informa tion manager with the company’s eastern sales area. “It is important to plant varieties that offer top yields and quality. And it’s just as important to double-check estab lished stands, especially if they are Corn planWgls wining soon, we have excellent quality and quanitityaf seef .corn 4his year. Seed corn has been our business for oSr 54 psars. We have a oftorigies. Rea%iabiy priced! We aJsw&eOats, Stiwffans, Twine&^iemicals HORST SEED AND CHEMICALS r Charles L. Horst Dennis S Horst 1 Mile East of Marion Along Marion - New Franklin Rd (717) 378-3883 (717) 375-4600 '\i' m'II all kinds olspra\ malt-rials CFS MliHB Hay & Forage Technology Call Or Stop By fi Find Out About The Only 30 Self-Propelled Disc Mower Conditioner! CFS CHAMBERSBURG FARM SERVICE 975 S. Main Street • Rt. 11 South Chambersburg, PA 17201 (717) 264-3533 more than four years old. If these older stands aren’t producing at op timum yield levels, it’s better to rotate to corn or another crop.” According to Bannon, as stands get older they thin out, resulting in decreased yields and increased weeds. The weeds reduce the forage quality of the alfalfa and make drying to the correct harvest mois ture more difficult. It’s relatively easy to check the health and population of older stands, Bannon said. Begin by counting the number of plants in one square foot at several locations throughout a field. The alfalfa pop ulation in an established stand should average at least four plants per square foot. KRONE . email: efsinc@innemet.net CARLISLE FARM SERVICE 260 York Road • Rt. 74, Off 1-81 Carlisle, PA 17013 (717) 243-4419 WE ARE THE KRONE BIG M EQUIPMENT SPECIALIST! Foraging Around, Lancaster Farming, Saturday, April 22, 2000—Page DESIRED PLANTS PER SQUARE FOOT BASED ON AGE OF STAND AGE OF STAND New Seeding 1 Year Old 2 Years Old 3 Years Old 4 Years or More A second method for evaluating alfalfa stands was developed by University of Wisconsin forage agronomics Dan Undersander and Dennis Cosgrove and involves counting alfalfa stems. This method allows you to wait until stems have grown 6 to 10 inches before check ing the number of stems per square inch. Stem-counting offers a more ac curate idea of stand health and yield potential. If there are more than 55 stems per square foot, maximum yield potential can be expected. Stem counts dropping below 40 stems per square foot can reduce yield by 25 percent or more. If stem counts fall below 40 per square foot, GET THE QUALITY ROUND BALER . GET CLAAS, CONDITION OF STAND GOOD consider rotation. You also car check the health of the stand by dig ging up several plants and checking for crown and stem rots. “It is important to know if you current alfalfa varieties are pro ducing yields that make a different for your farming operation,' Bannon said. “If they aren’t, switcl to another crop and consider usin newer varieties for your new alfalf seedings this year. “We have a number of excellent Pioneer varieties from which to choose,’’ Bannon said. Once you have checked older stands and selected new varieties Bannon suggests you follow proven management practices to ensure quality alfalfa production. Prior to planting, make sure that your soil pH measures between 6.5 and 7. Be sure you’re getting good seed-to-soil contact by either rolling or culti-packing prior to and after seeding alfalfa. After seeds have em erged, scout fields to determine if weed control is needed. In addition, scout for potato leafhoppers when plants are 3 to 6 inches tall. For more information about al falfa variety selection, stand checks or management practices, contact your local Pioneer products pro vider. FAIR 8-12 5-8 4-6 3-5 219 POOR < 10
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